Separation and characterization of urinary indoles resembling 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptamine

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Abstract
The occurrence of indole bases in human urine was studied by chromatography of urine on Zeo-Karb 226, elution of absorbed bases with acid ethanol and concentration to 0.002 of the volume of urine used. Indoles were investigated by paper chromatography and tests on guinea-pig ileum. Urine extracts contained 2 indoles. Evidence strongly supporting the identity of one of these with 5-hydroxytryptamine and the other with tryptamine was obtained. N-Methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine or bufotenin was not detected in the extracts. By estimation of spot intensities on paper chromatograms recovery of 5-hydroxytryptamine, N-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, bufotenin and tryptamine added to urine was of the order of 70%. The excretion of "urinary 5-hydroxytryptamine" in 12 normal adults ranged from 45 to 120 [mu]g/24 hours; similar values were found for "urinary tryptamine" output (6 subjects).